THE Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed 27 state lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They were welcomed at the Port Harcourt Polo Club in a ceremony presided over by Rivers APC Caretaker Chairman, Tony Okocha.
At the event, Okocha accused the Rivers State Government of masterminding the arson of the Rivers State Assembly.
“I challenge the Governor (Sim Fubara and the PDP) to prove to Rivers people that they are not the ones responsible for the burning of the Rivers Assembly,” he told the gathering today.
“How did the fire ‘catch’ the place?” the APC chieftain asked.
Following the defection, the PDP petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the lawmakers’ seats vacant, owing to the Fubara government’s demolition of the assembly structure due to the fire.
Following that, Governor Fubara presented the 2024 budget to the other lawmakers at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
However, Okocha claims that the defectors can gather and establish laws wherever they choose, irrespective of the PDP’s call.
“How many days ago, we were told that they had pulled down the assembly – as early as 7:00 am – they pulled down the assembly. But let’s say this clearly: assembly does not infer a structure. Assembly is not a building. Assembly is the human beings who are members of the assembly,” Okocha said.
“So, our assembly members that have defected to us – 27 of them – are free to meet anywhere as far as the symbol of authority – the maze – is there.”
